Pastor Ed’s Favorites: Precious Lord, Take My Hand

We wanted to feature here some of Pastor Ed Kang’s favorite praise songs! Most of them are oldies but goodies, and we often get to sing them at our mid-week prayer meetings.

This week’s song is: Precious Lord, Take My Hand. The song was written by Thomas A. Dorsey, known as “the father of gospel music.” He penned this song in his grief after his wife died in childbirth along with their infant son while he was away at a revival meeting.

Dorsey: “I learned that when we are in our deepest grief, when we feel farthest from God, that is when He is closest, and when we are most open to His restoring power. And so I go on living for God willingly and joyfully, until that day comes when He will take me and gently lead me home.”

PRECIOUS LORD, TAKE MY HAND
G                        G7
Precious Lord, take my hand
C                 Am7
Lead me on, let me stand
G       D       Em     Am7    D
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn
G                                G7
Through the storm, through the night
C              Am7
Lead me on to the light
G                        D                      G
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home

When my way grows drear
Precious Lord linger near
When my light is almost gone
Hear my cry, hear my call
Hold my hand lest I fall
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home

When the darkness appears
And the night draws near
And the day is past and gone
At the river I stand
Guide my feet, hold my hand
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home

Glory to God Forever

Here’s a new song we’ve been singing here at Gracepoint Berkeley, first at Fall Retreat 2009 and then at Missions Night, that has blessed so many of us. Check out the video below of Steve Fee talking about the song.

GLORY TO GOD FOREVER
Capo 4

G/B            C                           G                        D
Before the world was made, before you spoke it to be
G/B                  C                      G                      D
You were the King of Kings, Yes you were, yes you were
G/B                       C                    G                       D
And now you’re reigning still, Enthroned above all things
G/B              C                      G                        D
Angels and saints cry out, We join them as we sing

C              G       D            Em
Glory to God, Glory to God
C                     G         D
Glory to God, Forever (2x)

Creator God you gave me breath so I could praise
Your great and matchless name, all my days, all my days
So let my whole life be a blazing offering
A life that shouts and sings the greatness of the King

C                           G
Take my life and let it be
D                        Em
All for you and for your glory
C                           G                    D
Take my life and let it be yours (2x)

Praiseband Bloopers: Lord Reign in Me

Hey there readers of Gracepoint Worship blog, just wanted to announce a new genre here called Praiseband Bloopers. Aside from what you see on Fridays and Sundays, we are all human and do make the mistakes. Just to prove that point and hopefully add some joy to your day, here’s the first one.

The context (From David):

It was the weekend of the college retreat with Pastor Ed and Kelly Kang, so Sunday Worship Service  at Berkeley Gracepoint was just the Praxis group.  As a result, we had a certain Praxis director whos four letter name starts with T and ends with Y leading along with Po, Richard on drums, Eric (electric guitar debut), guitar (I think Eileen), bass (Richard teej) and singers Debbie and myself. The reason why it happened was because we were supposed to repeat the last chorus, but as the song was going I think people forgot or were unsure and at the last minute decided to bail out which left him hanging.  ouch.  the cost of being the praise leader I guess.  :)

Favorite worship song @ Gracepoint? Suggestions?

hillsong-united-look-to-you-album-cover

Hey there members of Gracepoint Fellowship Church, Berkeley! We did this survey a long time ago but I’d like to bring it back. What is your favorite song to sing during worship times? OR What songs would you like to sing? Please leave a comment with your favorite song title and artist as your feedback is important! I will compile the stats for the top 10 songs and artists submitted.

Gracepoint Berkeley – Home Worship Services

Summer has arrived and home worship services are now in full swing here at Gracepoint Berkeley, where every Sunday, groups of 30-50 people are squeezing into our members’ homes around Alameda to meet for worship service.

What this means for Gracepoint worship is that each home worship group, using whatever talent they have, is basically learning to lead praise at a small church this summer! No more pro-presenter, no more awesome stage design, and no more cool moving lights. Enter the bongo drum, shaker, and acoustic guitar, like Steven and Joe did this past week at their Koinonia home worship service.

So come join us at one of our many locations this summer to worship in our new, yet old-school, worship format. Who knows, maybe we’ll even bring back the overhead projector and handwritten transparencies!

For those who have been attending our home worship services, comment here on how they’ve been going!

Sunday Recap: May 10th, 2009

What was the name of that song again? If you are wondering what songs we sang during praise today, check here as I’ll be posting the praise set weekly. 

WORSHIP SET:

Now That You’re Near – Hillsong

Alabaster Jar – Gateway Worship

Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) – Chris Tomlin

Gracepoint Fellowship Church Worship Team

Good Friday and Easter Service

Here are some pics from our 2009 Good Friday and Easter service, enjoy! For more pictures you can visit the Gracepoint photo stream.

“Revelation Song” — Gateway Worship

My apologies to frequenters of this blog.  I know it’s been a while since the last post.  But rest assured, this blog is still alive and breathing.  I can’t say I’ll have as much time to add new posts, as my wife, Soo, and I have recently taken on the role of Directors of the Element youth department at Gracepoint Fellowship Church in Berkeley, which makes me a little busier.  But I’ve been trying to conscript some of our worship team veterans to contribute to this, so I won’t be the bottleneck for adding to this blog… or at least not the only one to blame… (ahem… Susan?)

Anyway, recently I’ve been particularly moved by ”Revelation Song” by Gateway Worship.  Watch Gateway Worship lead this song below…

10 points to each person who can contribute biblical references (via comment) from which the lyrics are derived.

James Kim
Gracepoint Fellowship Church – Worship Director

Gracepoint Berkeley SWS Team Monthly Training

Starting today, we’re having monthly training for those involved with the SWS Worship Team.  Basically, as we grow and have a heart to do domestic and foreign church plants, each of those teams need musicians to lead the worship times wherever we go.  The idea behind these training times is to set aside at least one time a month when people are getting trained by the veterans in each part.  

For each session, the section lead will teach the people attending to do what they know how to do. So the level of training will really depend on who attends to be trained.  The training sessions will be at 8:30pm on the Thursday before the first Sunday of the month.  (So, in the case when the first Sunday is falls on the 1st, 2nd or 3rd day of the month, the training will happen on the last Thursday of the previous month… Yes, a bit confusing, but works out better logistically for our rotations and such.)

I’m posting this because I want to open this up to anybody currently serving in one of our worship teams at Gracepoint Fellowship Church in Berkeley and San Francisco.  So if you are a student and are way ahead in your studies, or not a student and have some extra time, then please find your way to our 2000 North Loop building in Alameda during these times to get trained!

James Kim
Gracepoint Fellowship Church – Worship Director

Point of Difference: Chordsheets

Jonathan Chou (Berkeley Koinonia Staff, and our main bassist) went with his classmates to visit Gracepoint Fellowship Church, Austin last October.  For the Sunday that he would be absent, I asked Kevin Han (Berkeley City College Koinonia Lead, and our bassist in training) to cover for him.  I must say he did a fine job.  But aside from expressing how impressed I was at his playing, I want to demonstrate the manifestation of his commitment (or perhaps anxiety…) by showing his chordsheets that he used for that Sunday.

 

Now, I can imagine that most of you seeing this might just respond by thinking, “Wow, that’s a lot of markings…” And for many of our newer worship team members, you might be thinking, “I never make that many marks and notes…”  BUT, for those of us who have been around a while, and have seen the chordsheets of our current and previous “bassists”, this is quite remarkable.

I showed this to one of our electric guitarists (who requested to remain anonymous) and said, “What a difference, huh? I don’t remember Isaac’s chordsheets ever looking like this…” to which the anonymous electric guitarist replied, “Isaac?… what chordsheets?”

Point of Difference: Chordsheets

• Kevin thoroughly marks his…
• Jon doesn’t need his…
• Isaac could never find his…

Alas, the bassists in our lives that we’ve grown to love.  Which has the best method? YOU make the call!

James Kim
Gracepoint Fellowship Church – Worship Director